"No," was the reply, "he has taken a wife, and that is worse! He thinks of nothing but carousing, and he doesn't know when it's time to march." Mario, who was studying Latin with Lucilio, understood the substance of this colloquy, and followed the lieutenant and the two troopers to the kitchen. As soon as he arrived there, paying no heed to the new arrivals who were crowding through the door, he glided to Bois-Doré's side, who was cooking for dear life with Madame Pignoux, saying to himself that the sooner the enemy was at table, the sooner there might be some opportunity to escape. "Ah! here you are, my child," said the marquis in an undertone; "have they maltreated you?" "No, no," said Mario, "the captain and I are on the best of terms. Let me help you, father. We can talk while they are not thinking about us." "Very well, but we must not look at each other; watch me when I speak to the hostess.--Madame Pignoux, give me the butter!" he called aloud; then added in an undertone: "What is going on by the door, my good woman?" "A lady dismounting from her horse. Don't turn round, she may happen to know you." "Mustard, boy!" said the marquis, tapping Mario on the shoulder.--"Don't you turn either," he whispered in his ear.--"Madame Pignoux," leaning toward the hostess, "try to see her face." "I don't recognize her," said La Pignoux; "she has a mass of hair and feathers. She's a powerful woman!" LIV Our three friends were standing at the end of the kitchen by the oven, with their backs to the door and their faces turned toward a window, through which they could see the figures of the sentinels walking to and fro outside, carbine in hand. There were two on each side of the house; an unnecessarily large supply, for the house had only two doors, one opening on the road, the other of the pantry, opening on a small garden enclosed by a hedge. All the windows on the ground-floor and first floor were provided with stout bars. It was hopeless to think of forcing their way out. And yet the marquis sighed with impatience. "Ah! my son, why are you here?" he said to Mario. "With this stout kitchen knife I could soon get rid of the two sentinels walking back and forth in front of the pantry door. But with you--I should not dare; I am a coward." "And if my man was here," rejoined Madame Pignoux, "old as he is, he and Jacques would take care of the others. But I am very much afraid they have killed my poor servant! Good God! there he is! Just see how those devils have treated him! He's all covered with blood!" Jacques le Bréchaud, so-called because he was gap-toothed,[9] was ugly, crafty and bad-tempered, but brave and devoted. "Don't pay any attention to me," he said, "but give me a dish-clout to wipe my face." "Why, they have split your head open, my poor fellow!" said the marquis, passing him his lace handkerchief, which he found in his breeches, pocket.